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City of Pleasanton—Hidden Canyon Residences and Preserve Biological Resources Draft EIR 3.3-44 FirstCarbon Solutions https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480016/EIR/3 - Draft EIR/21480016 Sec03-03 Bio Resources.docx Level of Significance Less than significant impact. Local Policies or Ordinances Impact BIO-5: The proposed project would not conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance. Impact Analysis The proposed project is located within the Gold Creek Watershed of CZ 8 of the EACCS study area for which a Programmatic Biological Opinion (BO) has been prepared. The Programmatic BO requires the proposed project to follow guidelines for the Congdon’s tarplant—which is known to occur on the site—as well as for the CRLF, Alameda whipsnake, golden eagle, and American badger, as these latter species have the potential to occur on-site even if they have not been detected to date. With implementation of MM BIO-1a through MM BIO-1i, goals and objectives defined in Section 3.5 of the Conservation Strategy, including avoidance and minimization of potential impacts, would be achieved. The proposed project would be required to follow these measures as well as the additional measures in the Programmatic BO, which are included in Appendix E of the 2025 BE (Appendix C). Additionally, approximately 104.6 acres of similar habitat to the development area would be preserved as a part of the proposed project and impacts to wetland and waters would be reduced to less than significant through MM BIO-3, in adherence to Policy 1 of the Pleasanton General Plan. Therefore, through the implementation of MM BIO-1a through MM BIO-3, the proposed project would adhere to policies and ordinances listed within the Pleasanton General Plan and Gold Creek Watershed of CZ 8 of the EACCS Lastly, of the 208 trees surveyed, 95 of the trees met the City of Pleasanton’s criteria for Heritage Trees. These Heritage Trees include species such as coast live oaks, California bays, bigleaf maples, blue gums, California black walnuts, valley oaks, apples, trees of heaven, black locust, California buckeye, California incense cedar, elderberry, Mexican fan palm, and willow. The Arborist recommends the preservation of 147 of the 208 trees surveyed, including 64 Heritage Trees. The Arborist has provided tree protection measures to ensure that retained trees will not be impacted by the proposed project. The final determination as to how many trees will be removed or retained will be made when the grading footprint is staked in the field. The removal of trees, including Heritage Trees, because of the proposed project would constitute a significant impact. Construction activities that lead to the injury, decline, structural failure, or death of a tree proposed to be retained on the project site would also constitute a significant impact. Chapter 17.16 of the City of Pleasanton Municipal Code defines tree protection standards and requires a permit to remove Heritage Trees. However, with implementation of MM BIO-5, which detailed requirements for a tree protection plan, impacts to Heritage Trees would be reduced to less than significant under CEQA. Level of Significance Before Mitigation Potentially significant impact.